Residential customers who receive their monthly electric bill from JCPL can find savings above 10% by taking the time to shop and compare electricity rates in the competitive NJ energy market. The New Jersey Electric Choice and Competition act is providing power options for both residential and commercial customers. There are variety of options in the New Jersey competitive market. Customers can choose to lock in a fixed rate for savings and price certainty, or they can choose a variable rate with the option to switch suppliers at any time. Green power options are also being offered because of the NJ Electric Choice act.

Having the power to shop power companies is still a new idea to most electricity customers in New Jersey. Less than 8% of JCPL residential customers have switched electric suppliers despite competitive rates that are more than 10% lower than JCPL residential default rates. New Jersey is hoping that their electricity market matures like the Texas market did over the last decade. In Texas, Houston energy customers can choose between over twenty electric companies and over 50 electric rate offers.

The default rates offered by JCPL are generation supply rates that JCPL charges to customers who have not participated in energy choice. These rates are determined by a series of auctions that begin three years prior to the current current year. In other words, default rates being offered in 2011 are determined by auctions that occurred in 2008, 2009, and 2010. Switching electric companies does not end the customer relationship with JCPL. JCPL remains the electricity delivery company for all of their customers regardless of which competitive electricity generation supply company is chosen.

Residential customers who are serviced by Atlantic City Electric can currently save up to 22.5% on their electric bills. This is a result of the New Jersey Electricity Choice and Competition Act that went into effect in 2003.

Savings above 10% are available for the first time for Atlantic City Electric customers because retail electric rates in the competitive market are lower than current Atlantic City Electric default rates, also called Basic Generation Service (BGS) rates.

When an Atlantic City Electric customer chooses an alternative electric supplier, they will continue to receive their bill from Atlantic City Electric, who remains the customer’s electricity delivery company and who is still responsible for the maintenance and management of the lines and wires throughout the southern New Jersey Electricity grid.

See offers from competitive New Jersey Electricity Companies Below:

New Jersey electric customers have more rate options than ever before.  The four local utilities – PSE&G, JCP&L, Atlantic City Electric, Rockland Electric – all have default electric rates that are higher than competitive market rates for power.

Despite this opportunity for savings, only 3.3% (as of September 2010) of all New Jersey customers have switched away from default service on to lower rate structures.  Larger businesses have been quicker to switch as the Board of Public Utilities in New Jersey reports about 72% of the states largest customers (those using above 10o0 KW demand) have contracted out with alternative suppliers.

The consumers who can really benefit from electricity deregulation in NJ are the small business and residential customers.  The switch rate with these classes are extremely low.  Though New Jersey has had a deregulated electricity market for several years now, there has only been real savings opportunities available over the last 20 months or so.  NJ Electricity choice is still a new idea for many NJ residents.

What people in New Jersey should understand is that their local utility company is no longer responsible for their supply charges.  The utility companies, such as PSE&G and JCP&L, want their customers to shop for lower electric rates.  They do not profit off of the default service that they offer to customers who do not shop.  The utility companies are now soley in the business of delivering power.

We have found that most small businesses in New Jersey can expect to see savings between 10-20% if they take the time to shop the electricity market and compare prices.  Residential customers, depending on their utility, can see savings between 5-15%.

ElectricityWatch recommends customers look for electric prices that are fixed.
PSEG Rates

JCPL Rates

Atlantic City Electric Rates

Lower electric rates are available for Atlantic City Electric (ACE) customers who are on the utility’s default price to compare rate.  Commercial and industrial electric customers can save a modest 10-15% off their current rates by signing a fixed contract rate with a competitive alternative electric provider.

Depending on the rate class and usage patterns, ACE business customers are currently paying a default rate between 10.77-12.15 cents per KWh http://www.atlanticcityelectric.com/business/choice/nj/compare/.

Competitive rates in the region are being locked in for 12-36 month terms at rates as low as 9.7 cents per KWh.  Shorter term contracts are also available for those consumers who want to save money right away in the summer, but wish to wait and see where the long term default rates are heading.

South New Jersey electric customers can save money on their electricity bills by getting off of the high default rates and shopping the competitive market.

Contact us for more information about electricity deregulation.

On June 1, new summer default rates went into effect for all New Jersey customer s being serviced by JCPL (Jersey Central Power & Light) who are still on the utility’s price to compare default rate.

While residential competitive electric providers remain limited in the state, there are roughly two dozen competitive electric suppliers offering lower rates for commercial and industrial customers compared to the JCP&L default price to compare rate.  Business customers in the GS rate class will pay a rate of $0.115462 from June through September of 2010, and then pay $0.110205 from October 2010 through May 2011.  Current fixed competitive electric rates in the area are in the low $0.10s per KWh resulting in savings for most businesses between 8-14%.

Default rates in JCPL are derived from auctions the utility performs in previous years for the current year.  Due to lower natural gas prices, current market rates for electricity are lower than the current default rates resulting in saving opportunities for businesses.

For more inf0rmation on Jersey Central Power and Light competitive rates, please leave a comment or send an email.

Electric rates will decrease for the second year in a row for New Jersey electric consumers who are on default service (i.e. have not shopped for a competitive supplier).  However, despite the decrease, greater savings are still available for these default service commercial and industrial customers if they decide to shop the competitive market for lower rates.

The default rates will lower after the four major New Jersey Utilities (PSEG, JCPL, ACE, Rockland Electric) completed their auction for basic generation service. 

Even after the default service reduced rates take effect on June 1, business consumers can expect to save anywhere from 10-30%  more off of those rates by contracting out with an alternative supplier.

Southern New Jersey commercial and industrial customers can now see significant savings on their electric bills if they choose to shop the competitive market for an alternative supplier.  Savings as much as 22% off of the basic generation service default rates have been achieved for many businesses.

Many customers on the MGS and AGS rate classes continue to pay the ACE default rates that are over 12 cents per KWh.  Current fixed rates can be locked in for 12 month terms as low as 10 cents per KWh.  While many businesses are starting to become wise to deregulation, the majority of ACE customers are still unaware or confused about the savings available.  We encourage all businesses in the ACE utility service area to shop for a competitive supply contract.

Update:  12/23/2010

Atlantic City Electric residential electricity customers can save 22% off of their default rate with a variable rate and $50 Cash back bonus by going here

Fixed electric rates with savings between 15-22% (plus up to $75 Visa Prepaid Card) can be found here